OpenOffice
This is more than just a viable alternative to MS Office. It is a great improvement. An estimated 16 million+ people have downloaded the software; many more have installed it from CDs or were passed copies by enthusiastic users. Community members have produced translations in over 30 languages. You can create dynamic documents, analyse data, design eye-catching presentations, produce dramatic illustrations, and open up your databases. You can publish your work in Portable Document Format - .pdf - and release your graphics in Flash - .swf - format without needing any additional software. Documents are interchangeable with Word and Excel. Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP, Mac O/S, Linux, Solaris. Free. 63.5MB.
     Date Reviewed: 2003.11.02

The OS Files
Provides news, information, background, links and availability for every current and planned OS that runs on the PC platform. All Dos, Windows, Linux, and Unix variants plus a few others. Learn about the system you've got and investigate others you might want to install. Includes links to free systems.
     Date Reviewed: 2003.07.30

OuttaSight
A Windows desktop utility that hides application windows in a variety of convenient ways. It can be used to hide windows that are not used often, e.g. e-mail programs, so that they don't clutter the Desktop or taskbar. It can be used as a boss key to quickly hide windows you don't want other eyes to see. With an attractive user-interface, it is feature-rich, and conforms to Windows standards so it is intuitive and easy-to-use. Nice features like hiding windows with the mouse pointer, automatically hiding windows and configuring how they're hidden. Run from the system tray. Win95/98/NT/ME/2K. 323 Kb. Freeware.
     Date Reviewed: 2005.04.05

Password Depot
Create uncrackable passwords with the integrated password generator, like g\/:1bmV5T!8T4\CN?\A:y:Cwe-k&mUpHiJu:0md7pim - with a 1-GHz-Pentium-PC it takes about 307 years to crack this one. You don't have to remember these uncrackable passwords. You can insert them per mouse click or drag & drop. Save all your passwords in a single password list. Strong encryption algorithms, like BlowFish and Rijndael, restrict other user's access to your passwords. You can access your passwords at any time. Windows XP/Me/NT4/2000/98/95. 2.62MB. The free version has a limit of 20 passwords.
     Date Reviewed: 2003.05.12

PassMark DiskCheckup
This small download allows the user to monitor the SMART attributes of a particular hard disk drive. SMART - Self-Monitoring Analysis & Reporting Technology - is an interface between a computer's BIOS and the computer hard disk. It is a feature of the Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics technology that controls access to the hard drive. If S.M.A.R.T is enabled when a computer is set up, the BIOS can receive analytical information from the hard drive and determine whether to send the user a warning message about possible future failure of the hard drive. SMART monitors elements of possible long term drive failure, such as Spin Up Time, the number of start/stops, the number of hours powered on, and the temperature. Windows 95/98/ME, NT4, 2000, XP, 2003 Server. 43Kb. Free for personal use.
     Date Reviewed: 2003.08.01

Parental Filter
This excellent software has been upgraded and moved. It will block undesirable material you may not want to have your children exposed to. With all the junk available on the internet this is a very useful tool to have. Windows 2003/2000/XP/NT/ME/98SE. 10.6Mb Update Freeware.
     Date Reviewed: 2005.06.04

Pathbuddy
Some applications are useful on the odd occasion. Others, like Pathbuddy, are used all the time; and become an integral part of the computing day. You'll enjoy rapid selection of folders in Open & Save dialog boxes or in the Windows File Explorer, using hot key combinations with the WIN key, or from a drop-down list. Windows XP/Me/NT4/2000/98. Free. 400Kb.
     Date Reviewed: 2003.01.06

PC Locker Pro v1.2
This is a simple and very effective way of protecting and locking your computer. It has a user friendly interface, in the style of Windows XP. Easy to use, you can lock you computer just by clicking one button in the system tray or using a custom hotkey.Then PC Locker Pro will display a lock screen and protect your computer.The windows hotkey and mouse will be disabled. Re-entry of the password unlocks the computer. In addition this program will lock the computer if there is an incorrect shutdown. Windows 95/98/NT/Me. 580Kb. Freeware.
     Date Reviewed: 2005.06.26

PC Pitstop
An online system tuneup application that is safe and secure. After checking your system, the application offers to fix problems found, or advises on how to fix them. The system check addresses performance and computer security. We have used it on our computers with an immediate improvement in PC performance. It's all run from the web page, without file downloads, and is fast. Windows 95, 98, Me, NT, 2000, and XP operating systems.
     Reviewed before 2002.8.8

Go2PDF-pdf file converter
This is a simple and convenient application that enables you to convert instantly any document into PDF format. Go2PDF contains a Virtual PDF Printer, which is a high-quality PDF converter and generator with passwords protection, PDF access control, PDF scaling, PDF version and compatibility control, font embedding options and more. The system promises a PDF that is small, and concise yet clear. An easy fun to handle application. Works with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, AutoCAD, image formats, and plain text files. - Freeware, 261 KB.
     Date Reviewed: 2004.09.27

PentaZip
Clearly the cream of Zip-UnZip programs. PC Magazine Editor's Choice in the Nov. 27, 2001 issue. A compression manager and file viewer ideal for professional and home use. Zip, LHa, Arc, GZip, Tar, CAB and others. Create archives over 4GB. Multivolume SelfExtracting and File Splitter. Scripting and Scheduler. View Graphics, Multimedia, Autocad, Word, Excel, Hex and more, even if you don't have the associated program. Available in five languages. Windows XP/Me/NT4/2000/98/95. It's not free but worth every cent. Free Demo.
     Reviewed before 2002.8.8

Phone Deck 1.3
Here is a fast and flexible freeware address book and dialer. It includes many nice features like - Oneclick add or edit - File address multiple ways for easy look up - Alternate views - Number dialer - Multiple language support The software has an efficient, user friendly interface and the web site also offers comprehensive support via FAQ's and known bugs. Win 95, 98, ME, NT4, 2000 and XP. Dialer does not work in XP but will be fixed in ver 2.0. Freeware. 1.41 Mb.
     Date Reviewed: 2004.04.19

PhoneTray Version 1.20
Use your modem to identify the caller before answering. PhoneTray shows a balloon with the caller's name and number and announces incoming calls using a text-to-speech engine. 20 ringtones are included with the program or one may use any wave file. PhoneTray logs all incoming calls. It keeps the date, time, name and phone number of each call. Windows 2000/XP/Server2003, caller ID capable voice modem, caller ID service from your local phone company. 2.8MB. Free.
     Date Reviewed: 2003.11.09

Planet Visibility
Here is a lovely application for anyone teaching or learning Astronomy.A 3-color graph shows when a planet, the moon or the sun is visible during any year from 3000 BC to AD 6000 at any location on the earth. The months of the year, and the hours of the day, of visibilty is plotted. Altitude, azimuth, and magnitude, or the phase of the moon, are given, and first and last visibility, acronychal rising and cosmical setting. Lots of supplementary information is given, on the phenomena that are very useful for historical purposes. Tons of backup documentation is available for study purposes and instruction on how calculations are made. Windows 98, ME, 2000 and XP. 5.33 Mb. Freeware.
     Date Reviewed: 2004.08.31

pmaSoft
I recall my first electronic calculator - it was an Adler, cost over $100, and did no more than add, subtract, multiply and divide. It saved hours of work time and replaced our Facit, a mechanical adding machine. Well here's a new calculator with powerful features. Combines a scientific calculator, binary arithmetic for programmers, and unit converter in an interesting package. Windows XP/Me/NT4/2000/98. Free for personal use. 585Kb.
     Date Reviewed: 2003.04.25

Power Searcher
The Windows search tool is far from perfect. Power Searcher allows you to do a search on file, folder name, contents, size, attributes, or dates with lots of other filters to really refine the search. It can search both text related files as well as binary files such as MP3 files, executables etc. Windows XP/Me/NT4/2000/98/95. Free. 2.8MB.
     Date Reviewed: 2002.12.05

PP Kopimaster
All computer users may be sorted into one of two categories. Those who have lost important data, and those who are going to. Break the mould with this fast back-up utility - works well in a network environment. Windows XP/Me/NT4/2000/98. Free. 964Kb.
     Date Reviewed: 2003.03.30

PrestoNotes
Many applications are based on useful habits that evolved long before computers, and which are adapted to the computer environment. PrestoNotes replaces the sticky note habit, and fulfills the reminder function of a private secretary or Personal Assistant. Sticky notes may be individually personalized with background and text color, fonts, visibility, event frequency. Reminder alarms may be sounded once, hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, or annually. There's a lot more but you'll need to visit the Web site to find out. The author is Belgian, and while the French version of the Web site has impeccable French, the English is is a bit frenchy. Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP. Free. 1.25MB.
     Date Reviewed: 2003.07.09

PrintDeskTop
Print your screen with a single click of the mouse or your chosen hotkey. Windows XP/Me/NT4/2000/98. Free. 772Kb.
     Date Reviewed: 2003.03.27

PureText
This must compete for the smallest file size on TuDogs! Have you ever copied some text from a web page, a word document, help, etc., and wanted to paste it as simple text into another application without getting all the formatting and image space from the original source? PureText makes this simple. Just copy or cut whatever you want to the clipboard, click on the PureText tray icon, and then paste to any application. You can configure a Hot-Key to convert and paste the text for you. The pasted text will be pure and free from all formatting. Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP/2003. Free. 13Kb.
     Date Reviewed: 2003.11.27